2 Feb 2019

Putin: Russia will start creating new missiles, including hypersonic ones
Russia has suspended the Cold War-era Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, also instructing the government not to initiate disarmament talks with Washington. Russia’s actions come as a response to the United States’ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declaring on Friday that The United States is suspending its compliance with the INF treaty with Russia on Saturday…

Pope Francis heading to UAE for historic meeting
135,000 tickets have been issued for a historic mass with Pope Francis. The Pope is heading to the United Arab Emirates, the first papal visit to the Arabian peninsula. The February 3-5 visit will also highlight coexistence, religious freedom and interfaith relations as the Pope meets with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayebb. The UAE has declared 2019 the “year of tolerance,” bringing together different religions.

EU-Japan trade: Five things about the world’s biggest deal
Cheaper wine and cheese for Japan, cheaper cars for the EU – part of what the EU-Japan trade deal, now in force, means. The world’s biggest such deal, it covers nearly a third of global GDP and 635 million people. However there are warnings that the UK could lose its benefits if it leaves the EU without an agreement.

Australia weather: Monsoon rains cause floods in Queensland
Exceptional monsoon rains have caused severe flooding in parts of Australia’s north-eastern state of Queensland. Cars and livestock have been swept away over a large area around the coastal city of Townsville. Emergency crews are evacuating people on rafts. Up to 20,000 homes could be flooded if the downpours continue, officials warn.

Typhus Epidemic Worsens in Los Angeles
A veteran Los Angeles City Hall official is one of the latest victims of an epidemic of the infectious disease typhus that continues to worsen across LA County. For months, LA County public health officials have said typhus is mainly hitting the homeless population. But Deputy City Attorney Liz Greenwood, a veteran prosecutor,…was diagnosed with typhus in November, after experiencing high fevers and excruciating headaches.

New U.S. Experiments Aim To Create Gene-Edited Human Embryos
A scientist in New York is conducting experiments designed to modify DNA in human embryos as a step toward someday preventing inherited diseases, NPR has learned. For now, the work is confined to a laboratory. But the research, if successful, would mark another step toward turning CRISPR, a powerful form of gene editing, into a tool for medical treatment.

With Cash Handouts, India Takes Step Toward Universal Basic Income
India unveiled huge handouts for farmers, setting the stage for an election-year spending spree, a possible prelude to implementing a universal basic income in an effort to deal with widespread poverty. India’s budget for the year starting April 1, which was released Friday, doubled the income at which people have to start paying taxes, while promising payouts to help small farmers.

Iran unveils long-range cruise missile on revolution anniversary
Iran unveiled a new cruise missile with a range of 1,300 km (800 miles) on Saturday during celebrations marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, state television reported. “This cruise missile needs a very short time for its preparedness and can fly at a low altitude,” Defence Minister Amir Hatami said during the unveiling ceremony.

Boy Scouts Makes History Welcoming Girls to Its Ranks
A longtime American tradition ended Friday as the Boy Scouts of America officially changed its name to Scouts BSA. Now, girls ages 11 through 17 may join and participate in programs, including earning the Eagle Scout rank.

Report: Netanyahu to Meet Trump’s ‘Peace Team’ at Warsaw Mideast Conference
The White House “peace team” — President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and Middle East negotiation coordinator Jason Greenblatt — will attend the Warsaw conference on the Middle East over Feb. 13-14, a senior White House official told Channel 13’s Barak Ravid on Thursday.